World Cup Concert in Rio brought to global audiences with DPA microphones

Performers including Spanish tenor/conductor Plácido Domingo, Puerto Rican soprano Ana María Martínez and Chinese pianist Lang Lang, as well as the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra graced the recent Concert in Rio, which marked the conclusion of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The star-studded event took place at the HSBC Arena Stage in Rio de Janeiro on Friday 11 July.

Reliability and performance were key criteria for the microphone selection – requirements that led Jesse Lewis, audio producer for the live international broadcast of the concert, to select DPA d:dicate range microphones including the 4006 Omnidirectional, 4011 Cardioid and 4041 Large Diaphragm solutions.

“For a venue of that size, we had a tremendous need for an overhead microphone that was able to reach deep into the orchestra and pull out the really important details of the instruments,” says Lewis. “In this case, it was the DPA 4006 and 4041. The sound of the live broadcast depended greatly on the special sound those mics provide. Additionally, I have relied on the d:dicate 4011 for years as my preferred mic for acoustic piano recording. That’s why I selected a stereo pair on podium stands, accompanied by a pair of the d:vote 4099 Instrument Mics, for Lang Lang’s piano, and I’m happy I did, because the sound was very big and beautiful.”

Working alongside the concert’s live sound engineer Jerry Eade, who used his own collection of microphones, Lewis also faced the challenge of combating PA and monitor bleed with the live broadcast. “We needed a microphone that would keep the music and the atmosphere, but would reduce the negative effects from being on the wrong side of the PA system,” he explains. “Being omnidirectional, the DPA 4041 has unique characteristics, both on and off axis, that helped us do exactly what we wanted – more music and less PA bleed. It really couldn’t have been a more perfect setup. Despite using a PA system, we were able to achieve the exact sound we strive for in a pure acoustic situation.”

The concert’s producer, Bernhard Fleischer, was also delighted, reports Lewis. “The DPA mics hanging over the orchestra were the most crucial ingredient for this production,” adds Lewis. “They ensured that we conveyed the music in a powerful way to the broadcast audiences around the world.”